The NRL and Rugby League Players' Association finally reach a pay agreement while the season is on hold because of coronavirus, with the players taking a cut of about 71 per cent for the rest of 2020.

Rugby league faces a dangerous financial crunch due to the coronavirus shutdown, but players, clubs and the NRL are working together to ensure the game's future.

The NRL announces it expects to restart the premiership season late next month, while the league comes under attack from one of its broadcast partners, who says it has "squandered" its finances.

Rugby league's governing body says a letter sent by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller shows there is nothing to "preclude the commencement of the modified NRL competition" in May, despite health authorities being wary about relaxing restrictions too soon.

The NRL is leading the charge to get sport restarted, planning games by late next month — but Australia's Federal Sports Minister is urging all codes to have patience amid the coronavirus pandemic.

You might forgive the ARLC chairman his belligerence if the cost of careless statements and premature season recommencement dates could not now literally be measured in human lives, writes Richard Hinds.

The NRL is committed to resuming the premiership season on May 28, but the New Zealand-based Warriors claim they have been left in the dark about the league's plans for their move back to Australia.

The NRL has a number of crucial questions it must answer if it wants to restart its premiership season on May 28 as planned following the coronavirus-forced suspension of the competition, writes David Mark.

Annastacia Palaszczuk softens her stance on the NRL's attempt to restart the competition during the coronavirus pandemic, but says the league is yet to submit any plan.

Todd Greenberg resigns with immediate effect after four years leading the NRL, in a decision the sporting body says was mutually agreed.

The league wants its competition back up and running next month after being shut down by coronavirus, but a global sporting group says the NRL cannot focus on financial concerns at the expense of player safety.

Gillon McLachlan and Peter V'landys may be in charge of two rival football codes, but it would be wise for them to work together to make sure both their games get back on the field this year, writes Richard Hinds.

The rugby league immortal defends Todd Greenberg, who has fallen on his sword, calling on the league to share the blame for the poor financial state it finds itself in during the coronavirus pandemic.

A plan being hatched inside the walls of rugby league headquarters could see Mudgee host games in a modified NRL competition.

NRL clubs will be able to resume training from May 4 as the competition charges towards its planned restart three weeks later.

Queensland health authorities will consider giving the state's NRL teams the nod to bypass coronavirus restrictions and resume training as the code prepares to restart the season on May 28.

Assistant coaches are among those doing it tough in Australia's football codes during the coronavirus shutdown, as they learn to adapt to a challenging environment, writes Richard Hinds.

NRL television broadcasters Channel Nine and Foxtel agree to recognise May 28 as the competition recommencement date following extensive meetings, according to chairman Peter V'landys.

NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been fined $1,000 each for breaching the state's coronavirus distancing lockdown during a weekend away, as the NRL describes the getaway as "unacceptable".

Flattering comparisons with other leading sports officials have also helped elevate the ARL chairman's current status as the can-do man of Australian sport, but as Richard Hinds asks, is he about to make a huge mistake?

The NRL is hoping to complete 20 rounds of its premiership season and hold the grand final on October 25, as it looks to rebound from the coronavirus crisis.

Federal Minister Richard Colbeck says he hopes sport halted by the coronavirus pandemic can get started again, but warns NRL players' misbehaviour threatens a return of play.

Former Maroon Dallas Johnson says some fledgling NRL players at the Titans, Broncos and Cowboys should consider playing for their junior clubs this season.

The resumption of the NRL season on May 28 remains in doubt, with the players seeking answers over pay and other conditions only days out from their planned return to training.

Queensland is the first state to sign off on the planned May 28 return of the NRL and the Prime Minister hopes Border Force will allow the NZ Warriors into Australia shortly.

The New Zealand Warriors will take part in the NRL season, after receiving permission to travel to Australia.

Melbourne Storm players prepare to hit the road for Albury, where training will recommence on Wednesday at their new temporary base.

The NRL ticks another box ahead of its planned restart later this month, as the players officially sign off on a new pay agreement ahead of a return to training this week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says NRL players like the Gold Coast's Bryce Cartwright who refuse to be vaccinated ahead of the May 28 restart should be banned from competing.

The restart of the NRL could be jeopardised as Raiders forwards Sia Soliola, Joe Tapine and Josh Papalli join Titans forward Bryce Cartwright in refusing to sign an unedited version of the vaccination waiver.

The NRL announces players who choose not to have the flu vaccination on religious, medical or conscientious grounds will be allowed to train and play, but they must sign a revised waiver.

A successful season relaunch on May 28 has the potential to give the NRL a desperately needed leg-up on the fierce battlegrounds of Australia's football codes, where it is often overshadowed by the AFL, writes Richard Hinds.

Scott Morrison was acting as a 'water boy' during the Kangaroos friendly match against Fiji at ANZ Stadium in Suva on Friday when he knocked back the drink in the stands.

Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo has been raced back to Sydney from Fiji for surgery with a mysterious infection.

The 35-year-old is currently on vacation in Singapore with fashion designer Steven Khalil.

Matthew Cooper, a national account manager at Southern Cross Austereo, allegedly stripped naked and ran on the field during a game at Bankwest Stadium in western Sydney.

Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese admits he's a little "jealous" of his NRL counterparts with no rugby to be played until at least July.While the rugby league...

Daniel Conn, who played for Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters before retiring and launching a career as a personal trainer, has quietly struggled with his mental health.

Grayson Jarvis Goodwin (pictured), 30, fronted Waverley Local Court on Wednesday charged with drug possession after police found he had four bags of cocaine hidden in his car last October.

Domestic violence charges against Sydney NRL star Josh Reynolds will be dropped by police. He was accused of leaving his girlfriend Arabella Del Busso with bruising to her right arm and left leg.

The disgraced footy bad boy, 30, is accused of punching the brother of his wife Ainslie Currie in the face at a pub in his hometown of Mackay in central Queensland last Friday.

He's a former NRL player and the host of The Amazing Race Australia.

Reynolds, 30, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm after ex-girlfriend Arabella Del Busso accused him of leaving her with bruises to her arm and leg in an alleged attack last year.

He's the former NRL star and radio presenter who landed his first TV hosting gig with The Amazing Race Australia.

Jackson Travers, 21, bashed Sateki Tuitavake, 26, outside the Regent ­Redfern Hotel in inner Sydney on September 20, the night the Rabbitohs beat the Manly Sea Eagles semi-finals.

Red-faced NRL officials have been forced to make last-minute edits to its new television ad to promote the 2020 season after a series of embarrassing blunders originally went unnoticed.

NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo said the commercial is not intended to be political and showcases highlight moments for the game over the past 30 years.

Latrell Mitchell has hit back at Karl Stefanovic for calling his NRL season promo 'divisive' because he wore an Aboriginal flag over his shoulders.

The 24-year-old prop approached the Broncos legend at an event in Rockhampton on February 14 and called him out for his snub of his captaincy ambitions.

Two players from the Cronulla Sharks have been sent home from team training after falling ill with flu-like symptoms.